How to Incorporate a Company in Singapore
Singapore is consistently ranked the world's easiest place to do business. A Singapore Private Limited Company (Pte. Ltd.) can be incorporated in as little as 1–3 days via ACRA's BizFile+ portal. The standard corporate tax rate is 17%, but effective rates are much lower for SMEs benefiting from the Start-up Tax Exemption.
Before you start
- At least one shareholder (individual or corporate, any nationality)
- At least one locally resident director (Singapore citizen, PR, or EntrePass/EP holder)
- Registered local office address in Singapore
- A licensed Corporate Secretary (mandatory — must be appointed within 6 months of incorporation)
- Paid-up capital of at least SGD 1
Step-by-step
Reserve Company Name on BizFile+
Check name availability and reserve your company name on ACRA's BizFile+ portal (bizfile.gov.sg). The name must not be identical to an existing company, offensive, or a protected name. Reservation is valid for 120 days at a fee of SGD 15.
Appoint a Locally Resident Director
Every Singapore company must have at least one director ordinarily resident in Singapore. If you have no local director, you must appoint a nominee director through a registered corporate services provider while applying for your own Employment Pass (EP) or EntrePass.
Engage a Corporate Secretary
Appoint a licensed corporate secretary before filing for incorporation. The secretary prepares the company's Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&AA), maintains statutory registers, and ensures ongoing ACRA compliance.
File Incorporation via BizFile+
Submit the online incorporation application on BizFile+. Provide shareholder and director details, registered address, share structure, and business activities (using Singapore Standard Industrial Classification codes). The government fee is SGD 315. For straightforward applications, ACRA approves in 1–3 business days.
Receive Certificate of Incorporation and UEN
ACRA issues a digital Certificate of Incorporation with a Unique Entity Number (UEN). The company is immediately active — the UEN is used for all government transactions, tax filings, and business dealings.
Open a Corporate Bank Account and Register for GST
Open a Singapore corporate bank account (DBS, OCBC, UOB, or a neobank like Aspire/Airwallex). Register for GST with IRAS if your annual taxable turnover exceeds SGD 1 million; voluntary registration is available below this threshold.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Incorporating without a locally resident director — ACRA will reject the application; this is the most common error by foreign entrepreneurs.
- Choosing a generic or reserved name — names resembling government bodies, financial institutions, or existing trademarks will be rejected.
- Not appointing a corporate secretary within 6 months of incorporation — this is a breach of the Companies Act and ACRA may levy penalties.
- Confusing Singapore GST threshold — GST registration is required only above SGD 1 million turnover; registering unnecessarily adds compliance burden for early-stage companies.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Singapore company?
Yes. Singapore allows 100% foreign ownership in almost all industries. There are restrictions in specific sectors like media, legal, and banking, which require MAS or MCI approval.
What is the Start-up Tax Exemption?
New Singapore-incorporated companies (not listed, not investing-holding companies) enjoy 75% exemption on the first SGD 100,000 of chargeable income and 50% on the next SGD 100,000 — for the first three consecutive years of assessment. This significantly reduces effective tax below the headline 17% rate.
Do I need to be physically present to incorporate?
No. Incorporation is entirely online. A corporate services provider can handle the process with notarised or e-signed documents. However, you must visit Singapore (or visit an embassy) to obtain an Employment Pass if you wish to work and manage the company locally.
What annual filings are required in Singapore?
Every company must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM), file Annual Returns with ACRA (within 5–7 months after financial year-end), and file Corporate Tax returns with IRAS. The corporate secretary manages these deadlines.
Prefer we handle Singapore Company Incorporation?
Our team in India & UAE completes every step above for clients daily — accurately and on time.